Debate Summary - SPS vs. Wind/Solar/Hydrogen

--- In ssi_list@... "Arthur P. Smith"

> I've been working on some economic analyses of these issues. The
> major problem is capital cost.

:-) I've been waiting for you to chime in on this matter. ;-)

Afterall, I got a lot of detailed insight into SPS from reading your
posts.

> That should beat terrestrial solar for baseload power even with
> another decade's improvement in PV costs; however, we would have
> to do even better than that (or have other subsidies or
> motivators) to beat an expansion of nuclear power or some of the
> proposed coal + carbon sequestration approaches.
>
> Costs and losses in the electric grid are certainly issues, but
> much smaller scale than these basic capital cost numbers.
>
> Arthur

I liked your analysis. I think that we're both in agreement that the
competition for SPS is not going to be wind/solar but rather
nuclear, coal, gas etc. Wind/solar has too many drawbacks. Have I
mischaracterized what you wrote?

As for the electric grid, I just can't see a plausible alternative
to it. I defintely think that the Lovins' scheme of a massive
decentralization is a non-starter, if for no other reason than the
intensity of capital it will require from each homeowner.

TangoMan